The most exciting day of her life.

@postaday 131; #postaday2011.

Charlotte and BFF Ariana at 3:15 this morning at Koko Head School. Can't you just see the excitement in their faces?

It’s Charlotte’s turn to make her own memory. She and her Koko Head School classmates took off for the Big Island of Hawaii early this morning. Oh the kid! Funny, funny, funny. She was bubbling with plans yesterday morning during our telephone talk on her way to school.

“I’ll go to bed right after dinner, Mom,” she promised, promised, promised. And she did. She bathed and she got into bed all by 7:30 p.m. And then she fidgeted, she paced, she was up and down, up and down, eager with anticipation, thrilled beyond belief, her 9-year-old sensibilities had taken control, meaning nothing was in control. She sang. She giggled. Her sister fueled her enthusiasm. There was no way this kid was going to sleep any time soon.

Since I, too, would be getting up pre-butt-crack of dawn to wake her, I was in bed by 9 something myself. I could hear Sophie and Charlotte chattering, and I hollered over to them a couple of times. Fortunately, the darkness of the house settled in like a blanket. They either got quiet or I just fell asleep in the humid, sticky heat.

The last time I did this, I waited for the big yellow Blue Bird bus to haul Sophie and her gang away from the school. Today I stayed for a little while and took pictures of Charlotte with her friends. Then I said goodbye. I gave her a hug that lasted longer than she probably would have liked.

“Mom, this is the most exciting day of my LIFE!”

The last time I did this, I drove over to 24-Hour Fitness Hawaii Kai. But since this was the second night I had woken around 2 a.m., I decided to go home and get back into bed. I got another 1.5 hours of sleep when I rose at 5. I’m feeling rested, but it’s only 7:05 at the moment.

I miss her already. I cannot wait to see her again. I want to hear how great it was. I told her I want to hear how great SHE was! The Big Island of Hawaii is one of my favorite places on earth. It’s young with lava, it’s vibrant with rain forests and hula, it’s old with ancient Hawaiian artifacts and petroglyphs, and it’s old fashioned Hilo and Kona. It’s ranches, coffee and macadamia farms, and chocolate-dipped cookies, and South Point and black sand beaches. It’s aquaculture, koa forestry, tourism and ocean sports. It’s big. it’s the Big Island. And it’s the object of affection among many of Oahu’s fourth graders. They’ll get to explore it with teachers and each other, with disposable cameras, pens, pencils, and notebooks. There are no iPods, digital cameras, cellular telephones or GPS chips for moms like me to track our littles. The electronic leash has been severed, something that will benefit all of us. I will admit that I’ll be a little uneasy until 6:30 p.m. Friday evening. But I also know that if my telephone doesn’t ring, all is well.